BULLETINof the

Chicago Herpetological Society

Volume 49, Number 11November 2014

The Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society (ISSN0009-3564) is published monthly by the Chicago Herpeto-logical Society, 2430 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago IL 60614.Periodicals postage paid at Chicago IL. Postmaster: Sendaddress changes to: Chicago Herpetological Society, Mem-bership Secretary, 2430 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago IL 60614.

BULLETIN OF THE CHICAGO HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETYVolume 49, Number 11

November 2014

Global Distribution of Toads of the Genus Duttaphrynus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Suman Pratihar, Nirupam Acharyya, Sushil Kumar Dutta and Bidhan Ch. Patra 153

What You Missed at the October Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Archer 157

Herpetology 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160

Unofficial Minutes of the CHS Board Meeting, October 24, 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163

Advertisements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164

Cover: Michell’s quill-snouted snake, Xenocalamus michellii. Drawing from Genera des Serpents du Congo et du Ruanda-Urundi by Gaston-

François de Witte, Musee Royal de l’Afrique Centrale — Tervuren, Belgium. Annales — Serie in 8º — Sciences Zoologiques —No. 104, 1962.

STAFF

Editor: Michael A. Dloogatch --- madadder0@aol.com

Advertising Manager: Ralph Shepstone

2014 CHS Board of Directors

President: John Archer

Vice-president: Jason Hood

Treasurer: Andy Malawy

Recording Secretary: vacant

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Membership Secretary: Mike Dloogatch

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Members-at-large: Nancy Kloskowski

Rich Lamszus

Teresa Savino

Mike Scott

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Copyright © 2014

1. Young Scientist. Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, working at Department of Zoology Vidyasagar University Midnapore721102 and Bose Institute, Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Corresponding author: pratihar vu@rediffmail.com_

2. Department of Remote Sensing & G.I.S., Vidyasagar University, Midnapore-720102, West Bengal, India. rsgis.nirupam@gmail.com

3. Nature Environment & Wildlife Society, Nature House, Gaudasahi, Angul, Odisha, India. duttaphrynus@gmail.com

4. Aquaculture Research Unit, Department of Zoology, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore - 721 102, West Bengal, India. bcpatra@yahoo.com

Table 1. The 29 Duttaphrynus species and their type localities.

Duttaphrynus

species Type locality

atukoralei Yala, Southern Province, Ceylon [= Sri

Lanka]

beddomii Western Ghats, India

brevirostris Kempholey, Hassan District, Mysore

State, India

chandai Khonoma village, Nagaland, India

crocus Myanmar, Rakhine State

dhufarensis Oman

dodsoni Rassa Alla, Northeastern Ethiopia

himalayanus Himalayas (in Sikkim and Nepal)

hololius Western Ghats, India

kiphirensis Nagaland, India

kotagamai Ceylon [= Sri Lanka]

mamitensis Mausen, Mamit district, Mizoram

manipurensis Chandel district, Manipur

melanostictus India orientali

microtympanum Malabar, India

mizoramensis Kolasib district, Mizoram

nagalandensis Wokha district, Nagaland

noellerti Koskulana (near Panapola), Sri Lanka

olivaceus Gedrosia, Iran

parietalis Malabar, India

scaber Orientali India

scorteccii Mafhaq (Yemen)

silentvalleyensis Silent Valley Forests, Kerala, S. India

stomaticus Assam, India

stuarti Putao plain, NE Burma {= Myanmar]

sumatranus Sumatra, Indonesia

totol Sumatra, Indonesia

valhallae Pulo Weh Island, off N. Sumatra,

Indonesia

wokhaensis Wokha district, Nagaland

Bull. Chicago Herp. Soc. 49(11):153-156, 2014

Global Distribution of Toads of the Genus Duttaphrynus

Suman Pratihar , Nirupam Acharyya , Sushil Kumar Dutta and Bidhan Ch. Patra 1 2 3 4

Inger (1972) in order to resolve some of the problems of

taxonomy of the species of Bufo, recognized and defined seven

species groups among Bufo of Eurasia. These were the bipor-

catus, asper, melanostictus, stomaticus, viridis, bufo and

orientalis groups. Frost et al. (2006) erected the generic name

Duttaphrynus for Inger’s melanostictus group. Van Bocxlaer et

al. (2009), to restore monophyly of Duttaphrynus, recommended

expansion of Duttaphrynus to include the most recent common

ancestor of Bufo melanostictus (Schneider, 1799) and Bufo

stomaticus Lütken, 1864, and all of its descendants. Mathew and

Sen (2009) described six new species of Duttaphrynus based on

seven specimens collected from northeastern India. Presently

Duttaphrynus includes 29 species (see Table 1).

Species of the genus Duttaphrynus are known from the

following countries (the number of species for each country is

shown in parentheses): India (19), Indonesia (4), Maldives (1),

Malaysia (1), Thailand (1), Singapore (1), Cambodia (1), Laos

(1), Vietnam (1), Myanmar (4), China (2), Pakistan (4), Nepal

(4), Bangladesh (3), Brunei (1), Bhutan (2), Sri Lanka (5), Iran

(2), Afghanistan (2), Saudi Arabia (1), Yemen (2), U.A.E (1),

Oman (1), Taiwan (1), East Timor (1), Papua New Guinea (1),

Egypt (1), Sudan (1), Ethiopia (1), Somalia (1), Eritrea (1),

Djibouti (1).

• Duttaphrynus atukoralei is found in the southern half of Sri

Lanka below 200 m in the coastal lowlands.

• The back, legs and hands of Duttaphrynus beddomi are

reddish-brown. The back is finely spotted with black, and the

limbs marked with carmine red. The hind limbs are streaked

with black, and the venter finely streaked with brown. This

species is believed to be endemic to the southern Western

Ghats of India. Listed as Endangered because its Extent of

Occurrence is less than 5,000 km , its distribution is severely 2

fragmented, and there is continuing decline in the extent and

quality of its habitat.

• Duttaphrynus brevirostris is known only from the type local-

ity in the central Western Ghats.

• Das et al. (2013) reported the type locality of Duttaphrynus

chandai as Khonoma, 20 km west of Kohima (Nagaland

State capital).

• Duttaphrynus crocus has been recorded only from two local-

ities below 100 m elevation in Myanmar.

• The Oman toad, Duttaphrynus dhufarensis, is widely distrib-

uted in Yemen, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and the

Najd region of Saudi Arabia.

• Duttaphrynus dodsoni is a medium-sized frog found in

Egypt, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Eritrea and Djibouti.

153

Figure 1. Distribution of the genus Duttaphrynus. Toads of this genus are known from those countries marked with diagonal hatching.

Figure 2. Toads of the genus Duttaphrynus are known from the cross-hatched countries on this world map.

154

Figure 3. Type localities of the 29 species of Duttaphrynus are indicated by the marking pins.

• Duttaphrynus himalayanus is widely distributed throughout

the Himalayan Mountains.

• The type locality of Duttaphrynus hololius could be any-

where within the entire region of the Western Ghats, India.

• Duttaphrynus kiphirensis is known only from Kiphire, Naga-

land, northeastern India.

• Kotagama’s toad, Duttaphrynus kotagamai, is known from

only three localities in low montane rainforest habitats in

southwest-central Sri Lanka below 1070 m elevation.

• Duttaphrynus mamitensis is known only from Mamit Dis-

trict, Mizoram, northeastern India.

• Duttaphrynus manipurensis is known only from Chandel

District, Manipur, northeastern India.

• Asian common toads (Duttaphrynus melanostictus) have a

wide distribution across Asia. The native distribution extends

north from Pakistan through Nepal, Bangladesh, India, Sri

Lanka, Southern China, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand,

Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.

• The head and upper back of Duttaphrynus microtympanum

are yellowish. Its primary habitat is wet forests --- possibly

endemic to the southern Western Ghats of India.

• Duttaphrynus mizoramensis is found only from Kolasib

District, Mizoram, northeastern India.

• Duttaphrynus nagalandensis has been reported only from

Wokha District, Nagaland, northeastern India.

• Duttaphrynus noellerti is known only from isolated rainforest

localities in southwestern Sri Lanka, 50–460 m elevation.

• Duttaphrynus olivaceus is evidenced only from the extreme

western parts of Balochistan and adjoining Iran.

• Duttaphrynus parietalis is fairly common in the Western

Ghats of India, at altitudes of 400–900 m.

• Duttaphrynus scaber is found from Sri Lanka and peninsular

India (Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu) north to Orissa.

• The type locality of Duttaphrynus scorteccii is in Yemen.

• Dubois and Ohler (1999) suggested that Duttaphrynus silent-

valleyensis (as Bufo silentvalleyensis) was likely a synonym

of Bufo parietalis and placed it in their Bufo scaber group.

• Duttaphrynus stomaticus lacks cranial crests and is distribut-

ed in Afghanistan, India, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

• Duttaphrynus stuarti is limited to isolated localities in upper

Myanmar and the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh and

Meghalaya.

• Duttaphrynus sumatranus is known only from the vicinity of

Lubuk Selasi, Sumatra, Indonesia.

• Duttaphrynus totol is known only from the type locality

between Lubukbasung and Mininjau, Sumatra, Indonesia.

• Duttaphrynus valhallae was reported only from the type

locality (Weh Island, Indonesia), off the north end of Sumatra.

• Duttaphrynus wokhaensis has been reported only from the

type locality of Wokha District, Nagaland, northeastern India.

155

Literature Cited

Biju, S. D., I. Van Bocxlaer, V. B. Giri, S. P. Loader and F. Bossuyt. 2009. Two new endemic genera and a new species of toad (Anura:

Bufonidae) from the Western Ghats of India. BMC Research Notes 2 (241). 10 pp. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1756-0500-2-241].

Das, A., M. Chetia, S. K. Dutta and S. Sengupta. 2013. A new species of Duttaphrynus (Anura : Bufonidae) from Northeast India.

Zootaxa 3646(4):336-348.

Dubois, A., and A. Ohler. 1999. Asian and oriental toads of the Bufo melanostictus, Bufo scaber and Bufo stejnegeri groups (Amphibia,

Anura): A list of available and valid names and description of some name bearing types. Journal of South Asian Natural History 4(2):

133-180.

Frost, D. R., T. Grant, J. Faivovich, R. H. Bain, A. Haas, C. F. B. Haddad, R. O. de Sá, A. Channing, M. Wilkinson, S. C. Donnellan, C .J.

Raxworthy, J. A. Campbell, B. L. Blotto, P. Moler, R. C. Drewes, R. A. Nussbaum, J. D. Lynch, D. M. Green and W. C. Wheeler. 2006.

The amphibian tree of life. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 297:1-370.

Inger, R. F. 1972. Bufo of Eurasia. Pp. 102-118. In: W. F. Blair, editor, Evolution in the genus Bufo. Austin: University of Texas Press.

Mathew, R., and N. Sen. 2009. Studies on little known amphibian species of north east India. Records of the Zoological Survey of India,

Occasional Papers (293):1-64

Van Bocxlaer, I., S. D. Biju, S. P. Loader and F. Bossuyt. 2009. Toad radiation reveals into-India dispersal as a source of endemism in the

Western Ghats-Sri Lanka biodiversity hotspot. BMC Evolutionary Biology 9(131). [http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2148-9-131].

156

Chris Gillette. Photograph by Dick Buchholz.

It’s close. It’s risky. But Chris Gillette does take precautions to minimize

those risks. The insert shows Ashley Lawrence acting as spotter and the

ever-present stick. Chris also has no problem using the $4000 camera to

discourage probing jaws. Unseen is a backup in a boat. American croco-

dile (Crocodylus acutus). M ain photograph by Chris Gillette. Inset

photographer unknown.

Bull. Chicago Herp. Soc. 49(11):157-159, 2014

What You Missed at the October Meeting

John Archerj-archer@sbcglobal.net

I’m old. Many things are happening

in modern life that completely escape

my notice. My children have tried and

given up keeping me informed, but

even they are moving from cutting

edge to clueless twenties. I don’t have

cable because I’m cheap and watch too

much TV anyway. I’m not well known

on Facebook nor do I know Facebook

well. Let’s face it; I’m out of the loop

in many areas. I admit this and own

this fault and I still feel embarrassed

that I had never heard of Chris Gillette

before he was announced as our

speaker. So I did the standard and

googled the man. When someone is

well known it is often difficult to find

much about them other than what they

are known for, so I got “alligator wres-

tler” and “Gator Boys” reality TV

showing in a lot of hits. Not an auspi-

cious beginning in my opinion. I’d never seen the show, but I have

no love for “reality” TV. I know none of you watch those shows

because only intelligent, rational people read this Bulletin. OK,

maybe you’ve slipped and peaked at “Honey Boo Boo.” No.

That’s just not right. You haven’t, have you? Good.

I persevered. I found more tidbits of his life. Started working

with crocodilians at young age. Won alligator wrestling champi-

onship. Has traveled to South and Central America and Mexico.

Has a degree in Environmental Sciences. Takes stunning and

often amazing photographs. I was still skeptical. Jason Hood

arranged his appearance and Jason has never led us astray, but I

was wondering if we were going to hear a conceited TV person-

ality give a glorious talk about his glorious feats. Then I talked

with Chris on the phone about a problem with his hotel reserva-

tions. A short conversation, but Chris did not come across as a

famous and demanding TV star on the phone. Just the opposite.

He was easy to talk with and understanding of the problem.

While still a little leery, I now looked forward to meeting Chris

and hearing what he had to say about “Behavior of American

Alligators and Crocodiles in Captive and Wild Situations.”

How do I write about his presentation? His primary job is

giving live demonstrations with live alligators several times a

day reaching thousands of people each day. He talks while

sticking various parts of his anatomy in or near the mouths of

various crocodilians. He does this without missing a beat in his

monologue, eliciting laughter from an audience that is probably

hoping to see blood. He had no trouble keeping our interest. His

presentation flowed as easily as a conversation. Indeed, he

encouraged questions and feedback from the audience through-

out his talk. And he emphasized the animals, not himself. He

continually discouraged anyone from trying the same stunts he

does routinely, and emphasized that

he uses his extensive knowledge of

animal behavior to assess the risks he

takes. My favorite line of his may be,

“If you’re going to do something stu-

pid, do it in a smart way.” I’m pretty

sure none of us learned enough to

start sitting on the backs of wild cro-

codilians, but we learned much about

not only crocodilian behavior, but

also animal behavior in general.

Along the way we managed to ac-

quire some insights into Chris.

The first dive into Chris’s charac-

ter came with the slide headlined

“Why do I do it?” He denied that he

performs these feats because he was-

n’t held enough as a child, though he

admits that many of his acquain-

tances claim otherwise. He says that

he uses showmanship as a hook for “edutainment.” He captures

peoples’ attention with his “daring” stunts and that allows him

to dispel the myths and fables that surround these animals. His

work allows him to broaden our behavorial knowledge of croco-

dilians while satisfying some of his own curiosity about the

beasts. And he admitted that he works with these animals be-

cause it’s fun, allowing him to connect with the world in a way

not allowed to others. He repeatedly emphasized that he con-

ducts himself in a professional way, always using his experience

to minimize the very clear risks. A montage of two slides re-

vealed the truth of that statement. The main slide has a very

157

A friend of Chris’s was taking some long-exposure photographs when

an alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) decided he liked the looks of the

camera and dragged it into the pond. Eight months later an alligator

crawled out of the pond with the strap hanging from its leg. The camera

was no longer useful, but the sim card still held info. Photograph by

Chris Gillette.

Chris says that he won’t do this with just any old alligator, but JJ is chill

enough. One needs to know the animal before this is tried. Photograph

by Ashley Lawrence.

There is more to this than meets the eye. Chris explained many of the

intricacies of training alligators. Photograph by Danny Cueva.

Knowing the animals’ behaviors allow moments like this. Photograph by

George Cevera.

close underwater shot of a crocodile, while the inset slide shows

the big picture. While the camera and Chris are really close to

the creature, there is a spotter beside him with a stick and a

back-up boat nearby. Chris says one doesn’t play with crocodili-

ans without an observer always looking for the animal the

photographer doesn’t see and one always carries a stick to

persuade the croc that humans are not an easy meal. His fre-

quent spotter is his girlfriend Ashley Lawrence, an equally

engaging individual who worked with big cats before being

introduced to crocodilians by Chris. They both are very familiar

with the behaviors of potentially dangerous animals.

He used his photographs to reveal what he’s learned of

alligator behavior. I have to admit that how Chris sees his sub-

jects resonates with me. He doesn’t see them as Disneyfied

characters that love and appreciate the time he spends with

them. Of course, he can’t afford to, because if he miscalculates

how an animal may act, one of these creatures may eat him. He

appreciates that the animals have their own view of the world, a

view into which we have only a bit of insight. I really appreci-

ated the way that Chris avoids the word aggressive, giving a

short list of why an animal may attempt to bite. He breaks it into

only four reasons: feeding response, defensive response, territo-

rial response, and fear response. Feeding responses may be the

worst and strongest bites, because a croc will grab food and run

with it to escape the thievery of other crocs. If your arm is

mistaken for food it could be disastrous for your health. A

defensive bite might be the lightest bite because the animal is

simply trying to warn you away and is not trying to eat you. But

Chris consistently gave us examples that defied his statements

about behavior, stressing that animals are individuals and some

may exhibit unexpected behaviors. In a conversation over dinner

Chris said he doesn’t like to rely on the training of an animal to

elicit a particular response, instead preferring to use his knowl-

edge of their behavior to stay out of trouble.

We saw photos of jumping alligators and feeding crocodiles.

And photos of a ten-foot alligator resting its head in Chris’ lap

and Chris sitting on the back of a wild American crocodile. We

heard tales of how Chris managed to train crocs that were prob-

lems for other sanctuaries and how he managed alligators at the

sanctuary where he works. He showed us a nifty video from a

camera strapped to the back of an alligator called Saw which

had been trained to come to the sound of her name. Jerks in the

video were when other gators tried to bite the camera on Saw’s

back. Saw was trained to come because she was in bad condi-

158

According to Chris, crocodilians are more mellow under water. I’ll take

his word for it. Photograph by John Chapa.

Those are wild animals. Risk assessment is mandatory. Photograph by

John Chapa.

tion from poor husbandry prior to her arrival at the sanctuary.

Only able to open her mouth a small amount, she had to be fed

away from the other gators. All of the alligators Chris works

with at the sanctuary were nuisance alligators that would likely

have been killed if not for the sanctuary.

Chris talked of his visit to the crocodile bridge over the

Tarcoles River in Costa Rica. Because of people feeding them

from a highway bridge, there is an inordinately large number of

American crocodiles in the area. Chris showed us photos of his

interactions with these wild reptiles, which admittedly took

place simply out of curiosity. Using tricks of the trade and

insuring he had a safety stick, Chris showed a photo of himself

sitting on the back of a seemingly unconcerned croc. He de-

tailed how he approached and the precautions he took, but his

next slides showed the risks. Another crocodile, the first he had

ever encountered that was focused on eating him, ignored the

food offered and repeatedly attacked Chris. Dramatic photos

showed Chris narrowly avoiding the jaws of a croc exploding

from the murky water. Chris said that croc was the first he could

legitimately label as aggressive and yet he managed to grab it

under the chin on one attack and move it back. The croc was

about fifteen to sixteen-feet long. It attacked for five to six times

until police arrived to stop the action --- but only after asking

Chris to show them one more attack.

Chris is now concentrating on underwater photography. In

spite of his complaints about the difficulties of taking photos

under water, we saw fascinating pictures of underwater encoun-

ters with alligators and crocodiles. The animals are usually

easier to approach under the water than on land or on the surface

of the water. We saw close-ups of teeth and photos of him

handling the animals as proof. Pushing the envelope, Chris

showed slides of night photos taken in the water. Night can be a

problem because of limited visibility. While waiting at night for

the water to clear, Chris became focused on a leaf just in front

of his face that didn’t appear to be settling. As the water cleared

it revealed the leaf was the eye of an alligator face-to-face with

him.

We saw many more photos and heard many more facts about

the behavior of crocodilians. Chris says that he does not want to

be thought of as a “crazy gator-wrestling yahoo.” I suppose that

some will always think of him as such. Mainstream media rarely

looks at animals of any kind realistically, and definitely large,

potentially harmful, crocodilians are hyped as being dangerous

and even evil. Animal trainers and entertainers are rarely taken

seriously by academics, but that should change. Chris and his

girlfriend Ashley demonstrate that not only is a rational ap-

proach to training and interacting with “dangerous” animals

possible, it’s imperative if we are to understand much about

animal behavior. A crazy gator-wrestling yahoo could not learn

as much as Chris has learned, and would have difficulty teach-

ing as Chris does. He claims not to be an adrenalin junky.

Maybe not, but he obviously loves what he does and loves

teaching people about these animals. It was a pleasure meeting

both Chris and Ashley. Sorry you missed it, but you can look at

his photos on Facebook and his web page (chrisgillette.com).

Surely worth your time.

159

Bull. Chicago Herp. Soc. 49(11):160-162, 2014

Herpetology 2014

In this column the editorial staff presents short abstracts of herpetological articles we have found of interest. This is not an attempt

to summarize all of the research papers being published; it is an attempt to increase the reader’s awareness of what herpetologists

have been doing and publishing. The editor assumes full responsibility for any errors or misleading statements.

EFFECTS OF HANDLING ON RATTLESNAKES

M. L. Holding et al. [2014, J. Herpetology 48(2):233-239] note

that translocation, a management and conservation strategy used

commonly in which animals are moved from their sites of origin

to other localities, has proven controversial. They examined the

physiological and behavioral impacts of repeated handling and

short-distance translocation on rattlesnakes, which are often

translocated from areas of human use because of a perceived

threat to people. Northern Pacific rattlesnakes (Crotalus

oreganus oreganus) were radiotracked for 2 months, during

which time one of three treatments was imposed weekly:

translocation, walk and release at that day’s capture site (han-

dling control), and undisturbed control. At both the beginning

(spring) and the end (summer) of the study, blood samples were

obtained before and after an acute handling stressor, and plasma

concentrations of corticosterone (CORT) and testosterone (T)

were determined. All rattlesnakes showed a CORT stress re-

sponse, but baseline and stressed concentrations of neither

hormone were affected by either translocation or handling.

However, the response of both hormones to stress differed

between spring and summer, with a greater increase in CORT

and a detectable decrease in T occurring in summer. Activity

range size was affected by translocation, whereas no effects on

snake behaviors recorded during observer approach were de-

tected. Rattlesnakes appear quite resilient to the potential im-

pacts of frequent handling or short-distance translocation.

DESERT BOX TURTLES IN CENTRAL NEW MEXICO

D. J. Germano [2014, Chelonian Conservation and Biology

13(1):56-64] studied desert box turtles (Terrapene ornata

luteola) at the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge in central New

Mexico at the northern periphery of this subspecies in the

Chihuahuan Desert. He recorded locations and marked all box

turtles found in the northeastern part of the refuge over 23 yrs

during trips to the site in 1986–1989, 1998, and 2008. Desert

box turtles at the site sometimes were active in May and early

June, but were most active in late June or early July into early

October, with greatest activity in July and August. Numbers of

box turtles on roads were significantly correlated with air tem-

perature but not precipitation. Daily activity was bimodal during

peak activity months. Growth was fairly rapid until about 10 yrs

of age and then leveled off dramatically. The largest adults were

about 125–130 mm carapace length (CL), and females were

significantly longer than males in 2 of 3 survey periods. By

2008, a number of adults had een found that were 30–40 yrs old,

and several that might have been older than 40 yrs. The mean

number of eggs in a clutch varied from 2.67 to 3.55, there was

no indication of multiple clutches being produced, and variation

in egg number was only weakly explained by the CL of the

female. Despite low reproductive rates, the population on the

Sevilleta has persisted and likely will do well into the future in

this protected reserve.

FROGS AND OIL PALM PLANTATIONS

J. B. Barnett et al. [2013, The Herpetological Bulletin (125):1-9]

report that the spread of oil palm plantations across Southeast

Asia has resulted in significant species loss and community

change due to the simplification of what were once complex

ecosystems. This study examined how the return of a former

area of oil palm plantation in Selangor, Malaysia, to other uses

may have affected the anuran assemblages present. In the study

site, a tract of oil palms had been retained, while other areas of

former oil palm plantation had been converted to coconut palm

plantation, grassland, or allowed to naturally regenerate to

secondary woodland. No evidence was found of recolonization

by habitat specialists in regenerating areas; instead species

commonly associated with disturbed habitats were found. While

the number of anuran species found was similar between

habitats, the assemblage composition varied. Furthermore, there

was a considerable difference in anuran counts, with the greatest

numbers in secondary woodland, followed in rank order by

grassland, oil palm plantation and coconut plantation, with a

near tenfold difference in anuran counts between secondary

woodland and coconut plantation. Oil palm plantation was

below optimum even for disturbed habitat specialist species,

whichincreased in diversity and abundance once oil palm had

been removed.

NESTING IN THE YELLOW-SPOTTED MONITOR

J. S. Doody et al. [2014, J. Herpetology 48(3):363-370] note

that despite the general importance of nest site choice in repro-

ductive success in taxa with little or no parental care, little is

known for reptiles other than turtles. The authors report on the

nesting ecology of the yellow-spotted monitor, Varanus

panoptes, a large tropical lizard that utilizes warrens (concen-

trated groups of burrows) in northern Australia. They used

radio-telemetry, remote photography, and the complete excava-

tion of a warren to test the hypotheses that 1) warrens are used

by multiple individual V. panoptes; and if so, 2) they are used

for communal nesting; or alternatively 3) they are used for

communal estivation during the dry season. At least six individ-

ual V. panoptes utilized the warren system including four fe-

males and two males, and burrows were excavated by both

sexes. Excavation of the warren revealed no estivating lizards at

a time when four radio-telemetered V. panoptes had begun

estivation. However, two nests were found in the warren, indica-

tive of either communal nesting or multiple clutches of the same

female. Nests were deeper than that recorded for any other

reptile and were structurally complex. The authors discuss the

implications of the depth and structure of the nesting burrow for

the thermal and hydric environment of the eggs and for hatch-

ling emergence. The warren’s usage by multiple individuals

raises the possibility that the severe declines in V. panoptes

caused by invasive cane toads (Bufo marinus) may have impor-

tant implications for the V. panoptes social structure.

160

TREEFROG REPRODUCTIVE DYNAMICS

F. P. de Sá et al. [2014, J. Herpetology 48(2):181-185] in an

effort to understand the seasonal reproductive dynamics of

Hypsiboas albopunctatus, a Neotropical treefrog, studied the

following components: 1) the influence of abiotic factors on

seasonality, 2) how this seasonality relates to population dynam-

ics, and 3) male breeding recruitment. Fieldwork was conducted

every month from August 2007 to July 2008 within an ecotone

connecting semideciduous Atlantic Forest and Cerrado (Brazil-

ian Savanna) in São Paulo State, southeastern Brazil. Over the

course of the prolonged breeding season, the authors recorded

the maximum number of calling males and measured their

snout–vent lengths; data from the beginning and the end of the

breeding season were then compared. It was found that the

breeding pattern of H. albopunctatus is correlated with climatic,

physical, and biological factors. Male competition and aggres-

sion varied according to the population density, most likely as a

function of resource availability. There appears to be a social

hierarchy among males of H. albopunctatus according to body

size. Large calling males dominated the chorus in the beginning

of the breeding season, but smaller males contributed more to

the assemblage as the breeding season progressed. The average

size of calling males at the end of the breeding season was

significantly smaller. Smaller males occurred most in January

and February, marking the H. albopunctatus breeding recruit-

ment, when an abundance of adequate breeding microhabitats

exist. This full-season study serves as a cautionary tale: hypothe-

ses based on body size, particularly for prolonged anuran

breeder species, may be affected by seasonality.

SWIMMING WATER DRAGONS

J. L. Ringma and S. W. Salisbury [2014, J. Herpetology 48(2):

240-248] note that quantitative studies of the axial undulatory

swimming techniques used by secondarily aquatic vertebrates

have been largely restricted to crocodilians. Numerous lizards

are also known to swim using axial undulatory techniques, but

how they do so has received minimal attention from the scien-

tific community. The authors investigated the morphology and

undulatory locomotor kinematics adopted by the eastern water

dragon (Intellagama lesueurii) through observation of natural

swimming and filming of animals in a flume tank with a high

speed camera. They found that morphological modifications

associated with improved swimming ability and correlations

between wave characteristics and swimming velocity are limited

to the tail. The shape of dorsal spines and the reduction in the

width of transverse processes of the caudal vertebrae result in a

mediolaterally compressed tail instead of the typically rounded

or dorsoventrally compressed tail seen in other Australian

agamids. Axial undulatory swimming in I. lesueurii was found

to be conceptually similar to that of crocodilians, but the rela-

tively long and thin terminal part of the tail produces a different

shaped undulatory wave. Unlike crocodilians and fishes, I.

lesueurii does not use frequency moderated velocity control.

Instead, changes in velocity are solely controlled by the phase

speed of the propagating wave. The combined effect of these

traits is comparable efficiency and performance in the water

relative to that of crocodilians and an improvement relative to

terrestrial lizards.

PAINTED TURTLES IN ARIZONA

J. E. Lovich et al. [2014, Copeia 2014(2):215-220] note that

inferring the natural distribution and native status of organisms

is complicated by the role of ancient and modern humans in

utilization and translocation. Archaeological data and traditional

cultural use provide tools for resolving these issues. Although

the painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) has a transcontinental range

in the United States, populations in the Desert Southwest are

scattered and isolated. This pattern may be related to the frag-

mentation of a more continuous distribution as a result of cli-

mate change after the Pleistocene, or translocation by Native

Americans who used turtles for food and ceremonial purposes.

Because of these conflicting or potentially confounded possibili-

ties, the distribution and status of C. picta as a native species in

the state of Arizona has been questioned in the herpetological

literature. The authors present evidence of a population that

once occurred in the vicinity of Winslow, Arizona, far from

current remnant populations on the upper Little Colorado River.

Members of the Native American Hopi tribe are known to have

hunted turtles for ceremonial purposes in this area as far back as

AD 1290 and possibly earlier. Remains of C. picta are known

from several pueblos in the vicinity including Homol’ovi,

Awatovi, and Walpi. Given the great age of records for C. picta

in Arizona and the concordance of its fragmented and isolated

distribution with other reptiles in the region, the authors con-

clude that painted turtles are part of the native fauna of Arizona.

GOPHER TORTOISES IN BEACH DUNE HABITATS

J. C. Pawelek and M. E. Kimball [2014, Chelonian Conserva-

tion and Biology 13(1):27-34] note that gopher tortoises

(Gopherus polyphemus), considered a keystone species in the

southeastern US coastal plain, occupy a variety of upland habitat

types. Although upland pine-dominated habitats have received

much attention, few studies have examined tortoises in nearby

coastal beach dune habitats. To examine the distribution and

abundance of gopher tortoises in northeast Florida coastal habi-

tats, comprehensive burrow surveys were conducted three times

during the last 8 yrs on two separate gopher tortoise populations

near St. Augustine, Florida. Objectives were to 1) examine changes

in population size and structure in representative upland and

coastal dune habitats and 2) describe the response of gopher

tortoises to prescribed fires. Total burrow density within the

upland population remained stable over the 3 surveys (0.68

burrows/ha in 2005, 0.66 burrows/ha in 2007, and 0.64 bur-

rows/ha in 2011). Burrow densities in the burned areas of the

upland habitat increased in areas that were burned at least once

since the time of the first survey in 2005 but decreased in areas

that were infrequently burned or remained unburned. Burrow

density on the beach dunes, however, greatly increased between

the most recent 2 surveys (3.63 burrows/ha in 2007 and 8.95

burrows/ha in 2011), possibly due to increased use of a rela-

tively confined habitat, or sampling biases by surveyors. Three

different correction factor methods were used to determine

gopher tortoise population estimates for each of the surveys,

providing a range of estimates. The results of this study and the

few others focused on coastal beach dunes suggest that this

vulnerable habitat should receive more attention because some

of the highest burrow densities have been observed there.

161

MOVEMENT AND APOSEMATIC COLORATION

D. J. Paluh et al. [2014, J. Herpetology 48(2):249-254] note that

brightly colored frogs of the family Dendrobatidae contain

alkaloid-based chemical defenses which appear to be utilized as

a deterrent to predators. The conspicuous coloration of these

frogs is generally considered to be an aposematic signal to

color-visioned predators. A previous field-based experiment

tested this hypothesis in Oophaga pumilio (strawberry poison

frogs) from the La Selva Biological Station using a stationary

clay model experiment to assess natural predation. Avian preda-

tion rates on brown frog models were almost twice that of red

frog models, supporting the hypothesis that coloration in O.

pumilio is aposematic. A criticism of clay model experiments

has been that they do not accurately represent natural organisms,

especially with regard to movement. Many predators utilize

movement in prey selection and may not perceive motionless

clay models as prey. In an attempt to understand the importance

of movement better in assessing natural predation rates using

clay model experiments, the authors conducted a similar field-

based clay model experiment but instead used moving models of

O. pumilio and of brown control frogs. Moving brown models

were attacked more than nine times the rate of moving red models,

supporting the finding of the previous study and providing

further evidence that color is aposematic in O. pumilio. When

compared directly to the previous study using stationary clay

models, birds attacked moving brown models significantly more

whereas red moving models were attacked significantly less.

These findings suggest that moving models may provide a better

estimate of natural predator responses to an aposematic frog.

DECLINE OF THE CHEAT MOUNTAIN SALAMANDER

W. A. Kroschel et al. [2014, J. Herpetology 48(3):415-422]

evaluated trends in occupancy of the Cheat Mountain salaman-

der (Plethodon nettingi) over a 32-yr period and examined the

potential influence of competition by sympatric salamander

species on these changes. Surveys were conducted at 36 loca-

tions along four transects on an elevational gradient in the

Appalachian Mountains geographic province of West Virginia.

Occupancy modeling was used to examine patterns in species

distributions for three focal species: P. nettingi, a federally

threatened species, the eastern red-backed salamander (Pletho-

don cinereus), and the Allegheny mountain dusky salamander

(Desmognathus ochrophaeus). The probability of occupancy for

P. nettingi was considerably lower in 2011 compared to 1978–79

at medium and high elevations (1,169–1,378 m). Additionally,

occupancy of P. nettingi was associated negatively with P. cine-

reus at the highest elevations. These data suggest that these P.

nettingi populations have declined and P. cinereus have possi-

bly expanded their vertical distribution. Thus, P. cinereus may

be negatively affecting mid- and high-elevation populations of

P. nettingi. Alternatively, environmental changes (e.g., habitat

disturbance and altered weather patterns) may have contributed

to declines of P. nettingi at mid- and high-elevation sites, facili-

tated by colonization by P. cinereus. Due to the endemic and

federally threatened status of P. nettingi, conservation efforts to

avoid fragmentation of P. nettingi habitat should be maintained

and possibly enhanced, as ecological impacts of environmental

changes can be exacerbated in high-elevation habitats.

DECLINES NOT CORRELATED WITH CHYTRID

R. D. Tarvin et al. [2014, J. Herpetology 48(3):291-297] note

that approximately one-third of amphibian species are experi-

encing population declines. Among the most affected groups are

the harlequin frogs (Bufonidae: Atelopus), nearly all of which

are threatened with extinction. The authors monitored one of the

last known Ecuadorian populations of Atelopus spumarius

(Pebas stubfoot toad) with a mark–recapture survey between

February 2009 and December 2010. They aimed to determine

the effect of the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendro-

batidis (Bd), previously recorded at the site, on population size

and survival, and also analyzed the effect of selective logging

which occurred along the transect in April 2010. Every individ-

ual captured or recaptured was tested for Bd presence using

end-point PCR. All 679 Bd swabs (from 356 individuals) were

negative, suggesting that Bd did not influence population size

and survival. Population size increased during the first 9 months

of the study (August 2009–April 2010), from an estimated 47 to

92 individuals, but then decreased by November 2010 to an

estimated 48 individuals. Probability of survival was 0.13 lower

in months following selective logging compared to previous

months; emigration decreased by 0.37 after the logging event.

Pairs in amplexus were found between April and December,

suggesting a long, if not year-round, reproductive period. Al-

though most Atelopus spp. declines have been attributed to Bd,

in this case Bd had been detected in the area yet changes in

population size cannot be attributed to chytridiomycosis. Analy-

ses of survival and male body condition suggest that the decline

at the end of the study was the result of habitat destruction.

EFFECTS OF NECTIVORY ON FORAGING

W. E. Cooper, Jr., et al. [2014, J. Herpetology 48(2):203-209]

note that foraging modes were described originally for insectivo-

rous lizards, but many species are omnivorous or herbivorous.

Because seeking and consuming plants might alter foraging, the

authors studied foraging by the omnivorous Podarcis lilfordi at

two sites: one where lizards licked nectar from flowers of Euphor-

bia paralias and the other where they sought insects. Movements

per minute (MPM) did not differ among groups. Proportion of

time spent moving (PTM) was similar in lizards that licked

flowers and those that did not. Average speed (AS) was slower,

and speed while moving (MS) was faster when foraging for

nectar than for insects. Lizards foraging for nectar did not eat

insects; those foraging for insects frequently ate them. For

lizards foraging for prey, MPM increased as PTM, AS, and

capture attempts increased and as PTM decreased. PTM in-

creased as AS and capture attempts increased and decreased as

MS increased. AS increased as MS increased. For lizards that

licked, proportion of time licking (PTL) was unrelated to MPM,

PTM, or AS but increased marginally as MS increased. Lizards

foraging for nectar retained the PTM of lizards foraging for prey,

but added a large PTL. The ancestral mode has been retained for

hunting insects but modified to search for and lick nectar. While

foraging for nectar, lizards greatly reduce attacks on insects, sug-

gesting that, at a given time, an individual forages exclusively

for nectar or prey. Reduced predation pressure on islands may

have freed lizards to expand the diet by reducing risk during

intervals exposed to view while climbing plants and licking nectar.

162

Unofficial Minutes of the CHS Board Meeting, October 24, 2014

President John Archer called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M.

Board members Jason Hood, Nancy Kloskowski and Erica

Mede were absent.

Officers’ Reports

Recording Secretary: Minutes of the September 12 board meet-

ing were read and approved..

Treasurer: Andy Malawy went over the financial report for the

month of September.

Membership Secretary: Mike Dloogatch reported that member-

ship is steady at approximately 475, and read aloud the list of

newly lapsed members.

Sergeant-at-arms: Dick Buchholz reported 38 in attendance at

the September general meeting.

Publications Secretary: Aaron LaForge reported that the website

has been updated with the first six Bulletins of 2014 and the

announcement of the 2015 grants program.

Committee Reports

Shows:

• Notebaert Nature Museum, first full weekend of each month.

• Creatures of the Night, Garfield Park Conservatory, October

29.

• Aquatic Experience Chicago, Schaumburg Convention Center,

November 7-9.

• SEWERFest, November 9.

• Fishing / Sportsman’s Show, Schaumburg Convention Center,

January 29–February 1.

Adoptions: Colleen Schwarz has been added as a contact to the

website. Colleen will post adoptable animals to Facebook prior

to general meetings..

Junior herpers: There were 42 in attendance at the October

Show and Tell meeting. The next meeting will be the second

anniversary for the Junior Herpers. Yvette Hermendez will be

talking about “Reptile Moms and Babies.” Rich Lamszus has

been invited to write monthly blog for the Notebaert website.

Rich will be looking for content.

Library: Teresa Savino is looking for a volunteer to check books

in and out at the general meeting when Teresa can’t be there.

Old business

Because the last Wednesday in December is New Years Eve, the

holiday party will take place on Tuesday, December 30.

Mike Scott has volunteered to take charge of Herps of Illinois at

ReptileFest.

Bylaws: John Archer suggested “social media coordinator” as a

new board position. This might involve several secretary posi-

tions being combined under “communications secretary.” John

once more asked for suggestions and ideas by the next meeting

for changes to the bylaws.

New Business

Grants: Mike Dloogatch suggested that we formally approve the

grants program for 2015 and appoint a committee. A motion

carried unanimously that grants should be offered next year,

with the cap to remain at $1,000. John Archer, Linda Malawy,

Robert Jadin and Sarah Orlofske volunteered to serve on the

committee. Mike will find out if Steve and Amy Sullivan wish

to participate.

Adoption fund expenses: A motion was made to reimburse

Teresa Savino $500 for vet bills incurred for animals she was

fostering. Dick Buchholz, Mike Dloogatch, Aaron LaForge,

Rich Lamszus and Mike Scott voted for. Andy Malawy voted

against. Teresa Savino was excused from the vote. A written

policy for the handling of adoption and fostering expenses will

be prepared. A motion to purchase two vision cages for adop-

tions was passed unanimously.

Round Table

Rachel Fessler had a phone call from Scott Ballard asking her to

take in another ornate box turtle. She mentioned that soon there

will be an annual $50 fee for a license to keep protected species,

$150 for a license to breed them.

Teresa and Roy recently vacationed in Lake Tahoe.

Rich had lots of fun on the Columbus Zoo trip.

Robert Jadin is giving a talk on Halloween on venomous snakes;

he and Sarah may have suggestions for future speakers.

Mike and John were the only representatives of the CHS at the

Midwest Herp Symposium. Next year’s symposium will be in

the Madison area.

Ed just got back from Ohio and reports that the gray rat snake

population is thriving.

Mike Scott moved in with Noreen at the beginning of the month.

Gavin Brink mentioned that Lake Erie watersnake has been

delisted for two years due to increasing population.

John Archer said that he and Mike D saw 4 different species of

snake in the first 50' of snake road, including a green watersnake

Respectfully submitted by Rachel Fessler and David Hoff

163

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164

UPCOMING MEETINGS

The next meeting of the Chicago Herpetological Society will be held at 7:30 P.M., Wednesday, November 26, at the Peggy

Notebaert Nature Museum, Cannon Drive and Fullerton Parkway, in Chicago. This meeting will include the annual

election of officers and members-at-large of the CHS board of directors. Also at this meeting the speaker will be Stephen

L. Barten, D.V.M. Steve is a long-time member and past president of the CHS, an excellent speaker and a terrific

photographer. He recently traveled to Brazil. The title of his talk is “The Wildlife of the Pantanal, Brazil.” The Pantanal

of central-western Brazil is the world’s largest wetland ecosystem, covering an area 15 times the size of the Everglades

(it’s also bigger than 29 of the states in the U.S.). It has the densest population of crocodilians --- Yacare caimans --- found

anywhere in the world, and is a great place to find yellow anacondas. It also is one of the best places in the world to see

wild jaguars, giant river otters, giant anteaters, tapirs, howler and capuchin monkeys, coatis, and capybaras, as well as the

critically endangered hyacinth macaw and over 650 other species of birds. Steve toured the Pantanal by bus, truck, boat,

and foot, which allowed him close approach and photography of the wildlife. The highlight was witnessing a jaguar catch

a 6-foot caiman.

The December meeting will be a holiday party. Because the last Wednesday is New Years Eve this party will take

place on Tuesday evening, December 30. The CHS will provide soft drinks and snacks. If you would like to bring

something edible to share with the group, you are invited to do so. If you would like to bring an animal to show off to the

group, you are encouraged to do that as well. This will be a chance to socialize all evening and get to know your fellow

members a little better.

The regular monthly meetings of the Chicago Herpetological Society take place at Chicago’s newest museum --- the Peggy

Notebaert Nature Museum. This beautiful building is at Fullerton Parkway and Cannon Drive, directly across Fullerton

from the Lincoln Park Zoo. Meetings are held the last Wednesday of each month, from 7:30 P.M. through 9:30 P.M.

Parking is free on Cannon Drive. A plethora of CTA buses stop nearby.

Board of Directors MeetingAre you interested in how the decisions are made that determine how the Chicago Herpetological Society runs? And

would you like to have input into those decisions? If so, mark your calendar for the next board meeting, to be held at 7:30

P.M., Friday, December 19, at the Schaumburg Township District Library, 130 S. Roselle Road, Schaumburg.

The Chicago Turtle ClubThe monthly meetings of the Chicago Turtle Club are informal; questions, children and animals are welcome. Meetings

normally take place at the North Park Village Nature Center, 5801 N. Pulaski, in Chicago. Parking is free. For more info

visit the group’s Facebook page.

THE ADVENTURES OF SPOT

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